Drive or Fly: Ames, IA to Clarion, IA?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for DSM–FOD. At 60 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 16m

Distance

60 mi

Total Cost

$48

CO2

24 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$13

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 38m

6m in the air

Air Distance

48 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

12 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ames, IA → DSM 52m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 6m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FOD → Clarion, IA 40m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Ames, IA DSM — Des Moines International Airport 35 mi, ~52m drive

Clarion, IA FOD — Fort Dodge Regional Airport 26 mi, ~40m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DSM and FOD. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	1h 16m	3h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$48	$122
Carbon footprint	24 kg CO₂	12 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

60 mi 1h 16m

via I 35 Business, US 69, IA 3

Shortest (+0 min)

54 mi 1h 16m

via US 69, IA 3

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Ames, IA to Clarion, IA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.